‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Showrunner to Write ‘Tomb Raider’ Reboot

[Wang Chung]

The recently released Tomb Raider video game – a reboot of the series that spawned not just one, but two bad Angelina Jolie movies – received near universal acclaim when it was released back in February. Apparently, the Uncharted-esque third-person shooter gameplay and Far Cry-esque island exploration proved to be an incredibly successful combination.

While we’ve known for some time that a film adaptation of the game was in the works (Captain America star Hayley Atwell even expressed a desire to portray Lara Croft herself), very few details regarding the film have thus far been revealed. Today, we know who’s writing the screenplay.

According to Variety, Marti Noxon has been tasked with writing the script for the film. Noxon is perhaps best known as Joss Whedon’s second-in-command on Buffy the Vampire Slayer - she took on a more prominent role after season 3 when Whedon moved to Angel and eventually became showrunner – but she’s also written the screenplays for I Am Number Four and the surprisingly well-received Fright Night remake.

We previously reported that GK Films would be working closely with Crystal Dynamics – the video game studio behind the recent reboot – to develop the adaptation. Said Crystal Dynamics head Darrell Gallagher:

“They are working from this new take that we’ve given them… It was important for both of us to have a cohesive version of the franchise… We didn’t want to see a film version that was a continuation of the old ‘Tomb Raider’ films.â€

For those unaware, the Tomb Raider reboot more or less covered the origins of Lara Croft as a tomb-raiding adventurer. Over the course of the game, Lara went from being a fresh-faced archaeology graduate to a skilled, battle-hardened survivalist who could handle a bow and arrow with the best of them.

So it makes sense that GK Films would hire Noxon of Buffy fame to pen the adaptation. A young, strong woman who has to overcome bad guys and supernatural monsters with her special skill-set? Check, check, check, and check.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel Buffy the Vampire Slayer Showrunner to Write Tomb Raider Reboot

Tomb Raider, of course, is just one of a multitude of video game movies coming down the pike. In the past year alone, Need for Speed, Assassin’s Creed, Deus Ex, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon, Far Cry, Watch Dogs, and Raving Rabbids have all been announced as being in development for the big screen. Chances are that at least one of those films turns out to be good, right?

Then again, the highest-rated video game movie so far (via Rotten Tomatoes) is Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within with 44% positive reviews, so I wouldn’t go holding my breath if I were you.

I hope this is a decent reboot and a decent film. With a Buffy guy involved it could be decent.

 

[JakeYourBooty]

Marti is a gal not a guy

 

[Wang Chung]

Marti is a gal not a guy

oh crap. Sorry Marti. Thanks for the correction.

 

[Castiel]

Always found the Jolie movies lame, I honestly don't recognize the name or anything but I have faith in Buffy and if Joss had faith in Marti then sure, could be cool. Doesn't hurt knowing a girl would be in control of Tomb Raider either.